Army Officer Selection Board

This takes place over two days and must be attended prior to being able to proceed to the main board. It is an opportunity for candidates to learn some of the techniques that will be tested at the main board and for the AOSB assessors to offer advice and guidance to those attending about how prepared they currently are to attempt the much more challenging main board. It is designed to give potential officers an idea of what is required and expected at the main board. Candidates will participate in a number of assessments including physical and intellectual ones during their time at briefing. The results will be used by AOSB assessors when feeding back to candidates.

Before leaving AOSB briefing, candidates will be assigned a category based on the evidence available to the assessors. This will be:

1. Allowed to proceed to the main board as soon as desired.
2. Required to delay for between three and twenty four months (often awarded to younger candidates with potential ability but insufficient maturity, or for remedial purposes such as to improve upon physical fitness)
3. The candidate is thought unlikely to pass the Main Board based on the evidence presented at briefing. However, they are not prevented from attempting the Main Board if, after further consideration, they believe they can achieve the required standard.
4. The candidate is not considered suitable for commissioned service based on the evidence available. This may be as a result of a number of issues including personality or their ability to apply their intellect or both. Candidates who receive a Category 4 at the Briefing may appeal against this result if they genuinely believe that their performance at briefing was not representative. If successful (strong cases must be made) the candidate may be allowed to attend a Main Board.[5]

Cadets undertaking an obstacle course in preparation for an AOSB

This is a four-day selection event that consists of a number of different but inter-linked intellectual, physical, mental and aptitude tests. It is designed to put candidates for both the Regular Army and Army Reserve under pressure whilst fostering their team spirit and competitiveness.[6]

The Boards normally run from Tuesday until Friday but a small number each year take place from Thursday until Sunday.

On arrival, candidates are allocated a number (used instead of one's name) and placed into teams known as groups. They remain in these groups for the duration of the board, making it common for strong friendships to develop during the process. As candidates are assessed against a standard and not against each other's performance (there are no set quotas for acceptance – if you meet the standard you pass), it is not uncommon that strong groups will see a large proportion of their members meet the standard.

On the last night of the course a formal dinner is held for the candidates. The staff are at pains to point out that the meal is not an assessment, and no directing staff are present at the event.

The details of the physical tasks, command tasks, interviews and academic tests are not made public. It is known that the assessment consists of a physical fitness assessment, an individual obstacle course, three multiple-choice tests on current affairs, general knowledge and military knowledge, three interviews, a group discussion and essay on current and moral affairs, a 5-minute lecturette, individual planning exercise, and both leaderless team tasks and a series of command tasks where an individual team member commands the rest. There are also group races where each group gets an opportunity to test themselves against the other groups undergoing selection at the time.[7]

Candidates are only permitted to make 2 attempts to pass the board. These must be separated by a minimum of 8 months. AOSB selectors are looking for evidence throughout the main board that the candidate has the appropriate characteristics that after training will allow them to perform effectively as a Junior Officer in command of soldiers both in barracks and on operations.

The Cadet Forces Commissions Board is used to select officers for the Army Cadet Force. Run over a weekend, the course is broadly similar to the AOSB Main Board however there are no physical tests. There is no set quota for selection and candidates are assessed against a standard, not each other.

Following completion of CFCB, a candidate is awarded one of four possible results:

1. Selected - The candidate has been successful at the board and is recommended for an army cadet force commission.
2. Not Selected (Encourage) - The candidate has not been successful, however it has been recognised that they have potential and are encouraged to attempt the board again at a later date.
3. Not Selected - The candidate has not been successful. If they wish, they can attempt the board again at a later date.
4. Not Selected (Discourage) - The candidate has not been successful and is deemed to be unsuitable for a commission. The candidate cannot normally attend for another attempt, however in extenuating circumstances their county commandant can appeal to the President CFCB for an exception to be made.

If a candidate has not been successful at the board, they must wait at least 1 year before a second attempt. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, they must wait a minimum of 5 years for a third attempt.

The Army runs two Scholarship Boards each year for boys and girls aged between sixteen and seventeen. The board is similar in many ways to the Main Board, with a fitness test, interviews, planning exercise and leadership tasks. The board is only 24 hours, and is specifically tailored to suit candidates in this specific age range. The Board is designed to identify intelligence and leadership at a young age. Successful candidates are then subject to further scrutiny by Recruiting Group prior to potentially being awarded a financial award whilst at sixth form, and then a subsequent annual award for each year whilst studying at university. They are also awarded a final lump sum on completion of the 44-week Commissioning Course after university. By passing the Board, scholars have a guaranteed place at Sandhurst, and they do not need to pass the AOSB Main Board to enter RMAS.